Saudi conjoined twins were successfully separated at the National Guard’s King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) in Riyadh yesterday, the Arab News reported today.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabi’a, Executive Director of Health Affairs at the hospital and head of the surgical team that operated on the twins, said that the twin boys were separated ahead of schedule.

The boys, Abdullah and Abdulrahman, were born at the KAMC in December 2005. The separation surgery was initially delayed due to serious medical complications, and it took several months for the boys to improve and gain weight.

The surgery lasted 21 hours and was completed in 10 phases. Despite a 65 percent chance of success, Dr. Al-Rabi’a said that the surgical team handled the operation with great care and confidence.

This is the 14th successful separation surgery carried out at the KAMC. As in previous cases, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz funded the surgery and related expenses.